Removable coaster

ABSTRACT

A removable coaster removably attached to a container comprising a base formed of an insulative material, a first adhesive layer applied to one side of the base, the first adhesive layer forming a permanent bond between the base and a cover, and a second adhesive layer applied to another side of the base, the second adhesive for forming a semi-permanent bond wherein the base is removable from the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/901,397 titled “Integrated Beverage Coaster,” filedNov. 7, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated in this disclosureby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to apparatuses and methods forproviding insulation.

2. Introduction

Certain beverages such as beer and soda are preferred to be consumedcold. However, because the beverage is served cold, condensation occurson the surface of the beverage container. This condensation can leaveunsightly stains on surfaces that the beverage is placed on, and, incertain cases, can damage the surface as well. A coaster is typicallyused to prevent the beverage container from directly contacting thesurface.

SUMMARY

According to various aspects of the subject technology, apparatuses andmethods relating to a removable coaster are provided.

Disclosed is a removable coaster removably attached to a containercomprising a base formed of an insulative material, a first adhesivelayer applied to one side of the base, the first adhesive layer forminga permanent bond between the base and a cover, and a second adhesivelayer applied to another side of the base, the second adhesive layer forforming a semi-permanent bond wherein the base is removable from thecontainer.

In one version the insulative material comprises cork, rubber, and/orfoam. Preferably the container comprises glass, aluminum, and/orplastic.

In one version the first adhesive layer comprises permanent glue and thesecond adhesive layer comprises semi-permanent glue.

In one version the cover comprises a label. Preferably the label isplastic and/or Paper. In one version the label is embossed.Alternatively the label is printed on the base.

Preferably the coaster is removably attached to a side of the container.Alternatively, the coaster is removably attached to a bottom of thecontainer.

In one version the removable coaster further comprises a protectivelayer over the cover.

Alternatively, the removable coaster further comprises a separateprotective layer over an edge of the removable coaster. Preferably theseparate protective layer forms an attachment to the container. In oneversion the edges are concealed by the cover.

In one version there is substantially no residue left on the containerafter removal of the removable coaster from the container.

Also disclosed is a method of insulating a surface from a containercomprising the steps of providing a removable coaster comprising a baseformed of an insulative material, an adhesive layer applied to the base,the adhesive layer for forming a semi-permanent bond between the baseand the container, wherein the base is removable from the container,removing the removable coaster from the container, placing the removablecoaster on the surface, and placing the container on the removablecoaster such that the removable coaster insulates the surface from thecontainer.

In one embodiment, the removable coaster comprises a base comprising aninsulative material, the base attached to a bottom of a container usinga adhesive layer, the adhesive layer forming a semi-permanent bondbetween the base and the container.

Preferably the base is removable from the bottom of the container.Preferably, there is substantially no residue left on the containeralter removal of the removable coaster from the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a removable coaster being removed from a container.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a removable coaster according to one versionof the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken across tine A-A and expandedview of the cross-section of the removable coaster of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of an edge of the removable coaster of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of an alternate embodiment of an edge of theremovable coaster of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a removable coaster according to one versionof the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken across line B-B and expandedview of the cross-section of the removable coaster of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of an edge of the removable coaster of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows a top view of a removable coaster according to one versionof the Invention.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view taken across line C-C and expandedview of the cross-section of the removable coaster of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a side view of an edge of the removable coaster of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of an alternate embodiment of the edge of theremovable coaster of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of an alternate embodiment of the edge of theremovable coaster of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 shows a top view of a removable coaster according to one versionof the invention.

FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view taken across line DD and expandedview of the cross-section of the removable coaster of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 shows a side view of an edge of the removable coaster of FIG.14.

FIG. 17 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the removable coaster.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofvarious configurations of the subject technology and is not intended torepresent the only configurations in which the subject technology can bepracticed. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitutea part of the detailed description. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a more thoroughunderstanding of the subject technology. However, it will be clear andapparent that the subject technology is not limited to the specificdetails set forth herein and may be practiced without these details,

“Removably” means capable of being removed.

“Insulative” means having the properties of insulation.

Oftentimes coasters are hard to find because they are stored separatelyfrom the beverage container. Accordingly, there is a need for anintegrated removable beverage coaster. The subject technology satisfiesthis need and relates to a removable coaster that allows for easy accessto a coaster when one is needed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, disclosed is a removable coaster 100removably attached to a container 114 comprising a base 102 formed of aninsulative material, a first adhesive layer 104 applied to one side ofthe base, the first adhesive layer 104 forming a permanent bond betweenthe base 102 and a cover 108, and a second adhesive layer 106 applied toanother side of the base 102; the second adhesive layer 106 for forminga semi-permanent bond wherein the base 102 is removable from thecontainer 114.

In one version the insulative material comprises cork, rubber, and/orfoam, and any other materials known in the art for insulation.Preferably the insulative material is Con-Tact® Brand Natural Cork,1/16″ cork sheeting and/or Con-Tact® Brand Shelf Liner, 1/16″ tight-packfoam sheeting. Preferably the container 114 comprises glass, aluminum,and/or plastic, and any other materials known in the art for use as acontainer.

In one version the first adhesive layer 104 comprises any permanent glueknown in the art, and the second adhesive layer 106 comprises anysemi-permanent glue known in the art. Preferably, the permanent glueused is 3M® Super 77 All-Purpose Adhesive. Preferably, thesemi-permanent glue used is Loctite® Flexible Adhesive. There issubstantially no residue left on the container 114 after removal of theremovable coaster 100 from the container 114.

The permanent bond between the cover 108 and the base 102 is durable andwater-resistant, because beverages are subjected to changing and ambienttemperatures associated with refrigeration, condensation, ice baths, orany number of other situations.

The semi-permanent bond between the base 102 and the container 114 is aonce-removable, hydrophobic bond. The bond is semi-permanent in that itis neither permanent nor repositionable. The removable coaster 100 isnot able to be removed by normal wear on the container 114 throughoutthe production, sale, and distribution lifecycle. However, uponintentional removal by a user, the removable coaster 100 is easilypeeled back from the container 114.

In one version the cover 108 comprises a label. Preferably the label ismade of plastic and/or paper according to methods known in the art. Inone version the label is embossed according to methods known in the art.Alternatively the label is printed on the base 102 according to methodsknown in the art. The label includes information regarding the contentsof the container, such as beverage type, brand name, nutritionalinformation, etc.

Preferably the removable coaster 100 is removably attached to a side 118of the container 114 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the coaster 100is removably attached to a bottom 116 of the container 114.

In one version, the container 114 comprises a marking that is already onthe container 114, such as a standard industry label or trademarkmarking. For example, when a user buys a beverage from a store, thebeverage container will have a label or marking already on it thatdisplays the trademark of the beverage, or any other informationregarding the beverage. The marking can be engraved, embossed, orattached to the beverage according to methods known in the art. In thisversion, the removable coaster 100 is attached over the marking.Alternatively, in this embodiment, the cover 108 is identical to themarking that is being covered by the removable coaster 100.

In one version the edges are concealed by the cover 108, as shown inFIG. 5.

In an alternative embodiment, the removable coaster further comprises aseparate protective layer 110 over an edge of the removable coaster 100,as shown in FIG. 8. Preferably the separate protective layer 110 formsan attachment to the container 114.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-13, disclosed is the removable coaster 100further comprising a protective layer 112 over the cover 108. Theprotective layer 112 does not cover the edge, as shown in FIG. 11.

In one version of the invention a separate protective layer 110 coversthe edge while the protective layer 112 covers only the cover 108, asshown in FIG. 12. Alternatively the protective layer 112 covers thecover as well as the edge, as shown in FIG. 13.

Referring now to 14-16, disclosed is a version of the removable coaster100 which only comprises the base 102 and the second adhesive layer 106.In this version, the base 102 also serves as the label of the container114, such that the contents of the label are displayed directly on thebase 102 according to methods known in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 17, disclosed is an embodiment where a removablecoaster 1700 comprises a base 1702 comprising an insulative material,the base 1702 attached to a bottom of a container 1706 using an adhesivelayer 1704, the adhesive layer 1704 forming a semi-permanent bondbetween the base 1702 and the container 1706.

Preferably the coaster 1700 is removable fro the bottom of the container1706, but the coaster 1700 can also remain in place. Preferably, thereis substantially no residue left on the container 1706 after removal ofthe removable coaster 1700 from the container 1706. Preferably there isalso substantially no residue left on a surface that the coaster isplaced on.

Referring now to FIG. 18, disclosed is a flowchart 1800 illustrating amethod of insulating a surface from a container comprising the steps ofproviding a removable coaster according to the teachings herein 1802,removing the removable coaster from the container 1804, placing theremovable coaster on the surface 1806, and placing the container on theremovable coaster such that the removable coaster insulates the surfacefrom the container 1808.

The method can be performed using any of the above-described embodimentsof the removable coaster 100 including, but not limited to, theembodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-17, and any combinations thereof.

The description of the subject technology is provided to enable anyperson skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments describedherein. While the subject technology has been particularly describedwith reference to the various figures and embodiments, it should beunderstood that these are for illustration purposes only and should notbe taken as limiting the scope of the subject technology.

There may be many other ways to implement the subject technology.Various functions and elements described herein may be partitioneddifferently from those shown without departing from the scope of thesubject technology. Various modifications to these embodiments will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art, and generic principlesdefined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, many changesand modifications may be made to the subject technology, by one havingordinary skill in the art, without departing from the scope of thesubject technology.

A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “oneand only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” Theterm “some” refers to one or more. Underlined and/or italicized headingsand subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the subjecttechnology, and are not referred to in connection with theinterpretation of the description of the subject technology. Allstructural and functional equivalents to the elements of the variousembodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or latercome to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expresslyincorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by thesubject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to bededicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure isexplicitly recited in the above description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A removable coaster removably attached to acontainer comprising: a base formed of an insulative material; a firstadhesive layer applied to one side of the base, the first adhesive layerforming a permanent bond between the base and a cover; and a secondadhesive layer applied to another side of the base, the second adhesivelayer for forming a semi-permanent bond between the base and thecontainer; wherein the base is removable from the container.
 2. Theremovable coaster of claim 1 wherein the insulative material comprisescork, rubber, and/or foam.
 3. The removable coaster of claim 1 whereinthe first adhesive layer comprises permanent glue.
 4. The removablecoaster of claim 1 wherein the second adhesive layer comprisessemi-permanent glue.
 5. The removable coaster of claim 1 wherein thecover comprises a label.
 6. The removable coaster of claim 5 wherein thelabel is plastic and/or paper.
 7. The removable coaster of claim 1wherein the coaster is removably attached to a side of the container. 8.The removable coaster of claim 1 wherein the coaster is removablyattached to a bottom of the container.
 9. The removable coaster of claim1 further comprising a protective layer over the cover.
 10. Theremovable coaster of claim 9 further comprising a separate protectivelayer over an edge of the removable coaster.
 11. The removable coasterof claim 10 wherein the separate protective layer forms an attachment tothe container.
 12. The removable coaster of claim 1 wherein thecontainer comprises glass, aluminum, and/or plastic.
 13. The removablecoaster of claim 1 wherein the removable coaster comprises edges, theedges being concealed by the cover.
 14. The removable coaster of claim 5wherein the label is embossed.
 15. The removable coaster of claim 5wherein the label is displayed on the base.
 16. The removable coaster ofclaim 1 wherein there is substantially no residue left on the containerafter removal of the removable coaster from the container.
 17. A methodof insulating a surface from a container comprising the steps of:providing a removable coaster comprising: a base formed of an insulativematerial; an adhesive layer applied to the base, the adhesive layer forforming a semi-permanent bond between the base and the container;wherein the base is removable from the container; removing the removablecoaster from the container; placing the removable coaster on thesurface; and placing the container on the removable coaster such thatthe removable coaster insulates the surface from the container.
 18. Aremovable coaster comprising: a base comprising an insulative material,the base attached to a bottom of a container using an adhesive layer,the adhesive layer forming a semi-permanent bond between the base andthe container.
 19. The removable coaster of claim 18 wherein the base isremovable from the bottom of the container.
 20. The removable coaster ofclaim 18 wherein there is substantially no residue left on the containerafter removal of the removable coaster from the container.